[Exclusive] Realme 9i 5G not launching in India anytime soon: Madhav Sheth

Highlights
  • Realme has no plans of launching the Realme 9i 5G version in India.
  • The brand will soon introduce the Realme 9 and Realme 9 Pro series, with the latter having 5G network support.
  • The Realme 9 Pro series will be priced upwards of Rs 15,000.

Realme 9i launched in India on Tuesday as a budget offering with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 chipset and 50MP triple cameras. However, one downside to the phone is that it’s a 4G-only model and lacks 5G network connectivity. Since the company is betting big on 5G, there were obvious expectations it may introduce a 5G variant of the phone down the lane as it did with the Realme 8 last year. Now, in an interview with the Realme CEO Madhav Sheth, 91mobiles has learned that there are no plans for Realme 9i 5G in India. Instead, the brand will soon introduce the Realme 9 Pro series that will have 5G support.

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When asked why Realme 9i is a 4G phone and not 5G, Realme’s top executive said, “Being a 5G leader, Realme will keep democratizing the market with its 5G smartphones. But at the same time, we want to cater to the needs of a diverse range of consumers. While 5G has grown popular and consumers are willing to purchase 5G-enabled devices, we understand that a significant share of our users still look for 4G devices. Therefore, Realme will continue to bring in 4G devices as well to ensure that all its users can experience the latest technologies.” This makes sense considering including 5G network support will only increase the cost of the device.

Realme 9i featured

Furthermore, Madhav Sheth said for those interested in 5G phones, it already has the Narzo 30 Pro 5G, Realme GT, Realme GT Master Edition, Realme GT Neo2, etc., and will soon introduce newer models. Sheth had already confirmed the Realme 9 and Realme 9 Pro series (Realme 9 Pro and 9 Pro+) will debut in India soon and the latter will be priced above Rs 15,000. Both Realme 9 Pro and 9 Pro+ will offer 5G connectivity.

For those not following, The Realme 9 Pro and Realme 9 Pro+ have appeared on various certifications websites, including BIS. Madhav Sheth also teased the launch of the Realme 9 Pro series on Twitter where he asked fans whether the brand should launch the Realme 9 Pro or the Realme 9 Pro+ first. 

Key Specs

realme 9 Pro
Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 | 6 GBProcessor
6.6 inches (16.76 cm) Display
64 MP + 8 MP + 2 MPRear camera
16 MPSelfie camera
5000 mAh Battery
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realme 9 Pro Price
Rs. 21,999
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